As cannabis legalization continues, researchers are studying it more often to investigate the medicinal benefits the plant offers and how the benefits arise. For instance, the last two decades of clinical research suggest cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in cannabis produce a more beneficial effect when they interact with each other than on their own individually.
Knowledge of this synergy, known as the entourage effect, is spreading. Now, many consumers are transitioning toward cannabis products that offer a wider range of cannabis compounds besides the infamous THC. Considering public interest, we at Greeley Gallery thought we’d write about it for anyone who wants to learn more.
What is the entourage effect?
When looking closely at your marijuana buds, or the one in the image for this article, you’ll notice they’re covered in shimmery, sticky dots of resin. This resin contains hundreds of therapeutic compounds that influence the effects and benefits of cannabis.
You’re likely already familiar with the two most famous cannabis compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), but there are over 400 known compounds in the cannabis plant that we inhale every time we smoke or vaporize cannabis, and they offer unique benefits and effects that may change when mixed with other compounds. The entourage effect is these interactions between compounds.
You can think of it as being similar to how your energy levels and behavior change depending on who you’re with and where you are compared to when you’re alone. Except instead of mixing with coworkers, friends, and family, it’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids interacting. So what are these components? Well, we’ll tell you.
Cannabinoids
Cannabis plants naturally produce chemical compounds called cannabinoids that interact with the receptors of our endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate essential functions such as memory, mood, sleep, and appetite.
You can likely guess which are the most well-known cannabinoids. Yup, THC and CBD, which are also the most common cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Other lesser-known and abundant cannabinoids include cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC.)
While these and other lesser cannabinoids make up a smaller concentration of the plant, they still offer beneficial effects when combined with other cannabis compounds. For instance, CBC and CBG have been found to inhibit MRSA, a bacterial staph infection.
Terpenes
Terpenes are also naturally occurring compounds in cannabis, but they produce the aroma and flavor of a wide range of plants, including cannabis, other herbs, and even fruit!
There are over 150 types of terpenes identified so far within the cannabis plant alone, although most exist in only trace amounts. Still, some more abundant terpenes work together to produce the complex aroma profiles for each cannabis strain.
Until recently, researchers have focused almost exclusively on studying cannabinoids like THC and CBD, but now it appears that terpenes are good for more than creating aroma. Scientists think they just may be a new frontier in medicinal cannabis research.
On the plant, in addition to producing its smell, coloring, and flavor, terpenes help fight off pests. For instance, geraniol repels insects from the cannabis plant and, perhaps unsurprising, has been found to repel mosquitos from people who consume it. Research also suggests geraniol possesses anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Flavonoids
Adding to the abundance of cannabinoids and terpenes in the cannabis plant, there are also over 20 types of flavonoids. You can likely guess their primary purpose. That’s right, flavonoids help produce the flavor of cannabis strains. However, they also help create the plant’s colors and help protect it from UV light, pests, and diseases.
And, like cannabinoids and terpenes, scientists are finding that flavonoids may also offer medicinal benefits.
Early Supporting Research
While the cannabis entourage effect remains in its early stages of research, probably the most prominent work so far was done by neurologist and pharmacologist Ethan Russo, who has spent years studying cannabis compounds and how they affect the body.
In 2011, Russo analyzed a collection of studies focused on cannabis and published his review titled Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects, in which he describes the cannabis entourage effect.
Russo details various medicinal benefits the studies identified involving common cannabis compounds, and then, by analyzing their pharmacology, he could describe the potential synergistic effects of each compound. In his analysis, Russo identifies several conditions that terpenes and cannabinoids together may be helpful for, including anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, fungal infections, and inflammation.
Products that Promote the Cannabis Entourage Effect
Considering the cannabis entourage effect sounds a bit like magical alchemy, it’s no wonder people are interested in cannabis products that encourage it.
At the top of the list is good ol’ fashioned marijuana bud. Cannabis flower contains a wide range of terpenes and cannabinoids simply because it’s a raw herbal product. Meanwhile, products like edibles and cannabis-infused beverages undergo many processes and are mixed with many ingredients that may lose some of the synergistic effects.
However, if you want a product that offers the cannabis entourage effect but prefers not to smoke or vape cannabis flower, you may enjoy a cannabis extract product. Cannabis extracts come in many forms, from oils and capsules to vape cartridges and dabs. Some cannabis extracts, known as full-spectrum extracts, also possess a wide variety of cannabinoids and terpenes.
